Liquid dispensing apparatus



G. PETRUCCI LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS March 13, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1949 INVENTOR. GlusEPPE PE TfiPl/C'Cl BY 77M, M,M1r%m A TTORNEV$ March 13, 1951 PETRUCCI 2,545,303

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. G IUSEPPE ET U BY )M, M i

ATTORNEYS March 13, 1951 5. PETRUCCI 2,545,303

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. G/l/JEPRE PETRUCC/ ATTORNEYS March 13, 1951 TR 2,545,303

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1949 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. G/us EPPE PETRUCC/ BY 7M, M

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Giuseppe Petrucci, Caracas, Venezuela Application December 6, 1949, Serial No. 131,440 In Venezuela September 13, 1949 7 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and, more specifically, to apparatus for dispens ing a measured amount of a liquid from a reservoir thereof to a receiving vessel.

Apparatus for dispensing liquids hav generally been restricted to the handling of a liquid of rather restricted specific fluidity. Liquid dispensing devices proposed and constructed heretofore, characterized by the ability to dispense a measured amount of the liquid, have relied Largely upon measuring pumps and flow control valves for controlling the amount of liquid dispensed. Both types of quantity-control devices must be designed with particular reference to the fluidity characteristics of the liquid to be dispensed, a device generally suitable for dispensing a v ry fluid liquid being unsuited to the dispensing of a viscous liquid, and vice versa.

I have now devised a coin-operated apparatus for dispensing a measured amount of a liquid which is adapted to be used with equal eiiectiveness in the handling of any liquid regardless of its degree of fluidity. This result is achieved in accordance with my invention by utilizing pneumatic forces to Withdraw from a reservoir and to discharge to a receiving vessel the desired measured amount of the liquid.- The apparatus of my invention comprises a measuring receptacle, pressure control means for alternately establishing a partial vacuum and a pneumatic pressure in the measuring receptacle, liquid communicatin means between the reservoir and the measuring receptacle whereby liquid is drawn from the former to the latter when a vacuum is established in the receptacle, and valve means for diverting to the receiving Vessel the flow of liquid discharged from the measuring receptacle when a pneumatic pressure is established in the receptacle. Electric control means are further p vided for operation of the aforementioned pres sure control means. The electric control means is responsive to the amount of liquid in the measuring receptacle and is adapted to alternately establish a partial vacuum and a pneumatic pressure in the receptacle whereby the liquid is first drawn from the reservoir into the receptacle and is subsequently discharged therefrom to the receiving vessel. The measuring receptacle is supported by resilient means adapted to permit vertical displacement of the receptacle upon a change in the combined weight of the receptacle and its contained liquid. The electric control means is responsive to the uppermost and to the lowermost displaced positions of the receptacle corresponding to its empty and filled conditions, respec- 2 tively. The electric control means responsive to the uppermost displaced position of the receptacle is capable of operating the pressure control means in such manner as to establish and maintain a .partial vacuum in the receptacle and thereby cause the liquid to be drawn from the reservoir into the measuring receptacle. trol means responsive to the lowermost displaced position of the receptacle is capable of operating the pressure control means so as to terminate the receptacle-filling operation when a predetermined amount of the liquid has been delivered thereto and to establish and maintain a pneumatic pressure in the receptacle and thereby discharge the liquid from the receptacle to the receiving vessel.

These and other novel features of the apparatus, of my invention will b more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows the hydraulic and pneumatic system of my apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the complete appa-: ratus;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit which controls operation of the hydraulic and pneumatic system of the apparatus.

The dispensing apparatus of my invention is composed of a hydraulic and pneumatic system for the transportation of the liquid to be dispensed and an electric control system which effects operation of the hydraulic and pneumatic system. The general structure and operation of the apparatus can be most readily understood by a consideration first of the hydraulic and pneumatic system.

The arrangement of the hydraulic and pneumatic system whereby the liquid to be dispensed. is measured and delivered in accordance with my invention is shown in Fig. 1. The liquid is moved through the system by means of a reversible air compressor iii operated by an electric motor H. One side of the compressor is connected through a tube l2 to a liquid trap 13 which in turn communicates through a flexible tube M with the upper portion of a measuring receptacle [5, A flexible tube I6, projecting inwardly close to the bottom of the receptacle I5, communicates exteriorly thereof with two valves ll and I8 each spring-held in the closed position and capable of being opened by the energizing of relays l9. and 20, respectively. The valve I! communicates through a tube 2! to a body of the liquid 22 to be dispensed contained within a reservoir 23. Another tube 24 also communicates between the The electric con U body of liquid in the reservoir 23, a check valve 25 and tube 26, to the other side of the compressor 10. The tube 26 is connected to the check valve 25 by a T-connection; one side of the T comprising the check valve 25 which permits passage of air through the line 24 only in the direction of the reservoir 23, and the other side of the T com.- prising a second check valve 21 which permits admission of air into, but not out of the compressor line 25.

The hydraulic and pneumatic system of my dispensing apparatus operates in two distinct phases. The first phase comprises that portion of the operation in which a measured amount of the liquid to be dispensed is separated from the liquid supply reservoir, and the second phase comprises the remaining subsequent portion of the operation in which this measured amount of liquid is delivered to the. receivin vessel.

In the first phase of operation of my dispensing apparatus, the motor H is operated in such adirection as to cause the compressor It] to draw air through the tube it and to force air through the tube 26; The withdrawal of air through tube [2, the trap 13 and the tube i4 effects evacuation of air from the measuring receptacle I5. The resulting partial vacuum draws the liquid from the body thereof in the reservoir 23 upwardly through the tube .25, through the valve 'i'! which is held open by the relay 19 for this phase of the operation, and thence through the tube It into the measuring receptacle 15. As the liquid-accumulates in the measuring receptacle l5, the weight of the receptacle increasesand causes the receptacle to settle downwardly against the action of a resilient support such as a compression spring 28 therebeneath. The receptacle i5 is provided near the lower exterior portion thereof with a projecting arm 29 provided with adjustable contact screws adapted to actuate a switch which stops the motor and compressor. The adjustable-contact screws are so set with respect to the position of the stoppin switch as to actuate the switch when a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered to the receptacle, as indicated by the downward vertical displacement of the receptacle to a pre-established position. In the course of this first phase of the operation, the air forced by the compressor check valve 25 and the tube 24 discharges'into the body of liquid in the reservoir 23 so as to efiect agitation of the liquid and thereby insure 7 its uniformity of composition in the event that it- .contains any settleable component.

In the second phase of the operation of-my dispensing apparatus, the motor l i is operated in a reverse direction so that the compressor l draws-air through the second check valve 2'! and discharges this air through the tube 42, the trap 13,- and thence through the flexible tube I4 into the upper portion of the measuring receptacle I5. In'this second phase of the dispensingoperation, the valve relay is is de-en'ergized so that valve I? is closed and the valve relay it is energized sothat the valve i8 is opened. Conse quently, the delivery of air to the upper portion of the-measuring receptacle l forces the liquid therefrom through the flexible tube 96, the open valve 18, thence through a discharge spout 3B and into the drinking or other receiving vessel 3|, It will be seen, accordingly, that the amount of liquid delivered to the receptacle E5 in the first phase of the'operation, and automotically measured thereby, iscompletely discharged in it through the of the spring 28.

the course of the second phase of the operation so as to dispense a predetermined and measured amount of the liquid into the drinking vessel 3!.

The structural arrangement of the various elements of my dispensing apparatus is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Operation of the apparatus is initiated by a coin inserted through a coin slot 32 at the top of the device. The coin descends through a delivery channel 33 into a mechanical selector 34 of convenional design. The selector 35 is so constructed as to discard the coin if it is not of the proper size and thus deliver it through adiscard chute 35 into a return coin receptacle 36. If the coin is of the proper size, it passes through the mechanical selector and into a relay-operated selector 3'! which is held open when energized but which ejects the coin into the discard chute 35 if the selector is de-energized by failure of the power supply. Thus, with a proper size coin under normal operating conditions, thecoin passes through both of the selectors 34 and 3! and'downwardly against a lever 38 which initiates the operation of the dispensing apparatus for the first/phase of its operation. The weight of the-coin moves the lever 38 into its operating position to close a start ing-switch 39, and the coin, lever and switch are each held in their respective positions by a coinholding relay All.

The first phase of the operation of my dispensing apparatus will be more readily understood at this point by further reference to the electric control circuit shown in Fig. 4. The power supply line is represented by the terminals 4i and 42. Starting with terminal 42, the current flows through a liquid supply switch 43 normally spring-held in the closedposition but opened by the weight of a dependin float 44 when the level of the body of liquid 22 in the reservoir 23 descends below an established minimum supply level. The current flows from the switch- 43, through a safety switch '45, and thence through the starting switch 39 of that portion of the electric circuit which controls theoperation of the apparatus throughout the first phase of its operation.

From the starting switch of-thefirst phase control circuit, the current flows in three paths, one path passing through the coin-holding relay ill, a coin-discharge switch 46 "normally held 'in the closed position, and thence to the other line terminal M. The second path of the current flowing past the starting switch 39 passes through'the -relay E9 of the valve ll and thence to the other line terminal 4!. It will be seen that the fiow of current'through these two paths maintains energization of the relay 4%) so as to hold the coin in the position in which it keeps the starting switch 39 closed and further maintains the valve ll in the open position so as to permit delivery of-liquid from the reservoir '23 to the measuring receptacle H5. The third path of the current flowing through the starting switch 39 passes through line ll to the motor relay 48 and'thence back to the other line terminal ti. The resulting energization of the motor relay 4:} moves the three blades Moi the relay into the position indicated in Fig. 4 and efi'ects operation ofr-the motor I I in such directi-on'as'to'cause the measuring receptacle Itto be filled with the liquid to be dispensed.

As the measuring receptacle is progressively filled with the liquid, its increased weight causes it to be displaced downwardly against the action When the receptacle has been s filled with the desired pro-established amount of the liquid, as represented by the level to which the receptacle has settled, the lower side arm 29 of the receptacle makes contact through its adjustable set screws with the projecting, blade of the coin-discharge switch 46 and presses down: wardly thereon. This action opens the switch 46 so as to de-energize the coin-holding relay 40 and permit the spring action of the relay to discharge the coin with consequent release of the coinoperated lever 38. As a result, the starting switch 39 is opened, and the valve relay circuit, the motor relay circuit and the motor coil circuits are opened. The action of the coin-discharge switch 33 is such as to justify its previous designation herein as the stopping switch. With the motor stopped and the valve il returned to its closed position, the device is ready for the second phase of its operation. If, for any reason, opening of stopping switch 46 fails to stop the motor ii, a slight further downward displacement of the measuring receptacle is sufficient to cause the side arm 29 to open the safety switch 45 and cut on the electric power supply to the entire circuit.

The second phase of the operation is initiated by the coin falling through a conveyor channel 58 and against a second lever 51 which operates a second starting switch 52 in that portion of the electric circuit which controls the second phase of the dispensing operation. The lever 51 is held down, and hence the switch 52 is maintained closed, by the weight of the coin, and the coin is retained in this position by the spring-retracted or tie-energized position of a second coin-holding relay 53. When the second starting switch 52 is thus closed, the relay 2% is energized so as to open the valve i8 and the motor coils are again energized. However, motor relay 53 remains unenergized and the blade of this relay are springheld against the other contact poles so as to reverse the connections of one of the motor coils. The motor thereupon operates in a direction opposite to that at which it operates in the first phase and causes the compressor iii to force the liquid out of the measuring receptacle l5, through the open valve is, thence through the discharge spout so and into the drinking vessel 3|. As the liquid is discharged from the measuring receptacle iii, the receptacle becomes lightened and is raised by the action or" the spring 28. receptacle side arm 5:3 positioned adjacent the upper exterior portion of the receptacle ap proaches the extending blades of three switches. One of these switches comprises a switch '55 which, when closed, energizes the second coinholding relay 53. As the upwardly moving side arm 54 closes the switch 55, the relay 53 is energized and operates to discharge the coin from its position in which it holds the second starting switch 52 cicsed. Consequently, the coin falls downwardly into a receiver 55. The opening of the second starting switch 52 also opens the circult of the valve relay 2B and the motor coils so as to cause the valve 53 to close and the motor to stop. Discharge of the liquid from the spout A second All.

3G thereupon terminates and the full cycle of the dispensing device is completed.

It will be noted that in its final position, the upper receptacle side arm 56 holds relay-operated coin selector switch 5'! closed. Inasmuch as both of the switches 55 and 5'! are thus maintained closed by the side arm 54 when the measuring receptacle is empty, the relay-operated coin selector '3? is energized so as to permit passage of It will also be noted that the upper receptacle 7 side arm E l, at the end of the operating cycle, holds open a switch 53 which is connected in parallel across the fioat operated liquid supply switch.

43. Thus, in the event that there is suilicient liquid in the reservoir 23 at the beginning of the operating cycle to maintain the liquid supply switch 43 closed but insufficient to maintain switch &3 closed after delivery of only a portion of the desired amount of the liquid to the .measur ing receptacle 15, the initial downward movement of the measuring receptacle as it is being filled is accompanied by release of the switch 53 so as to r" by-pass the supply switch 33 and thus permit the device to operate through the remainder of a complete cycle in spite of the opening of the supply switch 43.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the circuit including the first starting switch 39 may be provided with an indicator light 59 connected in series with a resistor 8i; to the other line terminal ll in order to indicate operation of the first phase of the cycle. A similar indicator light El is provided in the circuit including the second starting switch 52 in order to indicate operation of the second phase or" the cycle. These two indicator lights are advantageously positioned adjacent the coin slot 32 so as to show that the apparatus is in operation as soon as a coin is deposited in the slot.

It will be seen, accordingly, that the dispensing apparatus of my invention i characterized. by pneumatic movement of the liquid to be dis pensed, both in its delivery from the supply reservoir to the receptacle in which it is measured and in its discharge from the measuring receptacle to.

the receiving vessel. As a result, the successful operation of the apparatus is not limited to the handling of a liquid of rather critical fluidity. In fact, theapparatus of my invention capable of dispensing with equal facility liquids ranging fiuidity from the relatively fiuid fruit the relatively viscous syrups.

I claim:

juices to 1. Apparatus for dispensing a measured amount of a liquid from a reservoir thereof to a receiving Vessel which comprises a measuring receptacle, pressure control means for alternately establishing a partial vacuum and a pneumatic trol means responsive to the amount of liquid in the measuring receptacle in such manner as to alternately establish a partial vacuum and a penumatic pressure in the receptacle whereby the liquid is first drawn from the reservoir into the receptacle and is subsequently discharged therefrom to the receiving vessel.

I 2. Apparatus? for: dispensingiv a" measured amount of a rliquid from" a :reservoir thereof to a receiving vessel which comprises a'- measuring 1 receptacleypressure control means for alternately establishing:aaapartial vacuum-and-apneumatic 5 1 pressurein: the measuring: receptacle; liquid com municating-means :between'the f-I'GSSIVDH? and'the measuring receptacle whereby:- liquid is drawn" I from the former to the 'latt'er'when a vacuum isestablishedrin the rreceptacle, valve means for" n=-' diverting to the receiving vessel the flow ot liqiiid' dischargedifrom themeasuringireceptacle when apneumatic' pressure is establ'ished therein, and electric .controlsmeanssfor=said'ipressure' control meansu-responsive to the amount of liquid in 'the 5 measuring receptacle in such manner as to-estab-" lish a partial vacuumiin the 'receptacle'when the latterpis empty and maintain said vacuum until thereceptacle ;ed with "the :desired amount of. liquid. and to then establish a pneumatic pres sure aim the .receptacle whei'ehy'said amount of liquidsis:discharged therefrom to the" receiving vessel;

3. Apparatus for dispei'i'siifig ameasured amount of- 'a liquid i'rom a 're'servoir': thereof to a receiving vessel which comprises "a measuring receptacle adapted to receive'th'e liquid. from said reservoir, resilient supporting means for-"the "receptac'le adapted to permit vertical displacement V of the receptacle upon a *cha'nge in'the combined weight of the receptacleand its contain'ed' liquid; pressure: control' 'means for alternately establishingia partialvacuum and a 'pneuma'tic pre ssure" in the'measuring receptacle, liquid communicating .-1neans between the reservoir and the-measur in'g' receptacle whereby liquid is drawnirom the-- formertothe latter when a vacuumis established in: the receptacle, valve means for diverting to the receiving vessel theilow of "liquid discharged from the measuring receptacle whena pneumatic 40 pressure is it established: therein, electric control meansresponsive to the uppermost displaced position of the ineasuring receptacle-when the receptacle is empty capableptopera-ting the pressure-control means I in' such manner "as toestablishiand.maintain 'a partia l -vacuum in the I receptacle, andwelectric control means-responsive tom the:- lowermost displaced position o-f the" measuring receptacle corresponding to'filling' of the receptacle with the desired measured amoun-t ofvthe liquid capable of operating-the pressure control means in such manneras toestablish maintain a pneumatic pressure in:tlie'receptacle whereby the liquid is discharged from the recep tacle. to -thereceiving vessel.-

4.-Apparatu's -ioia dispensing;- a measured amount-of a liquidci-roma reservoir thereof to -a receiving vessel. which comprises. a measuring re ceptacle, pressure control meanscomprising-a reversible pneumatic compressor communicating(* with the measuringreceptacle -for alternately establ-ishing therein a partial vacuu-m-and -a pneumatic pressure,- liquid communicating means between the reservoir and the measui*ingrecep-; tacle whereby: liquid is drawn-fromth former 5 to .rthe latterwhen a vacuu-in is established in the receptacle, valve-means af-ordiverting-to the receivingwessel the flow-of liquid-discharged from themeasuring receptacie when a-pneumatic pressure-is established therein, and electric con" trol means ior said "compressorresponsive to th amount 1 of liquid. maths-measuring receptacle in such manner-was to operate the compressoi in a direct-ioncwhich will-"establish a partial-xivacuum" in the receptacle when thelatteris 'empty -andreservoir an'd'the measuring receptacle whereb receptacle whena pneumatic pressure is es-" 3 it nia'intain'said vacuum until the receptacle is-filled with the desired amount of'liquid and "td'then operate the compressor in the reverse "direction and-establish a, pneumatic'pressurein the recep tacle' whereby "said amount of liquid is discharged thei'efr'om'tothe receiving vessel.

5. Apparatus for dispensing a measured" amount ofa 'li'quidfroin a reservoir there of'to'a" receh ing 've's'selwhich comprises ameasuring" receptacle,pressure control means comprising -a= reversible pneumatic compressor communicating with the measuring receptaclefor alternately establishing thereina partial vacuumand a pneumatic pressure{reversible driving means ior said compressor, liquid communicating means between the reservoir and the measuring recep ta'cl'e whereby liquid'is drawn from the former tothe latterwh'en a vacuum is'establi'shed in" the 'rec'ep'tacle-,valve means for divertingtdthe "receiving ve's'sel'the flow'of liquid discharged'froni the measuring receptacle'when a pneumatic pres sure is established therein, and electric'coiitrol" means io'r'said driving means responsiveto the; amount" of liquid in the measuring receptacle in such manner as to operate the driving means in such direction as to cause the coinp'ife'ssor to establish a "partial vacuum in the receptacle men-"the latter is empt and maintain said vacuum until the'receptacle is filled with tl'ie desired amount of liquid and to then oper'at'eth'e'-' driving inea'nsin the reverse direction so as-to cause tlie compressor to establish a pneumatic pressure in the receptacle whereby said amount of liquid is discharged therefrom to the receiving vesself 6. Apparatus for-dispensing a measured amount of-a liquid from'a reservoir thereof to a receiving 5 vessel which comprises" a 'ineasurin'g receptacle adapted to'receive the liquid from said reservoir, resilient" supporting means for the receptacle adapted to permit vertical displacement of the" receptacle upon a change in the combined'weight of the-receptacle and-its contained liqu'id',-pre's sure cor'i'trol'meah's comprising a reversiblepne' matic compressor communicating with the ine asuring'receptacle for alternately establishing therei'n a partial -va cuuinancl*a pneumatic are sure, reversible drivingine'ans for said temples: sor, liquitl communicating means between the liquicl 'is drawn 'irom'the' foimer t -the'latte when a vacuum-is established in 'the'receptac valve' mean's for-diverting to thereceivingvessel the iiov'rofliquid discharged from the measuring tablished therein, electric control'means'resp siv'e to the-uppermost displaced position 'of'th'e measuring receptacle when the receptacle is empty capable of operating the driving means 'insuch direction as to cause the compressor'to establish and maintain a partial vacuum "in-the' receptacle and thereby'cause" the liquid to be: drawn from thereservoir intothe receptacle, and '3 electriccontrol'meansresponsive to thel0wer "most-displaced position of the receptacle'when' it is fill'ed witli the amount of liquid to be'dis pen'sedcapable of operating the driving means in" the reverse direction so asto causetheooinpres-'- sm to establish and maintain a pneumatic 'pres sure ihthe'receptac'le and thereby discharge said 10 operated actuating means for the second-men- REFERENCES CITED honed contrql means both actuatmg The following references are of record in the means being operated in response to the presence file of this patent: of a coin of predetermined monetary denomination, coin delivery means adapted to deliver the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS coin first to the first-mentioned actuating means, Number Name Date and coin delivery means responsive to said lower- 2,428,729 West Oct. 7, 1947 most position of the measuring receptacle adapted to deliver the coin to the second-mentioned actuating means.

GIUSEPPE PE'I'RUCCI. 

